. >>> the fiscal cliff doesn't drop off for almost three weeks but this morning federal agencies have new marching orders from the white house. >> they do. they've been told to prepare for more than $100 billion in spending cuts. susan mcginnis reports there are few signs ever progress to fix this fiscal cliff so far. >> reporter: social security workers marched outside their office in baltimore wednesday. they're protesting the government spending cuts due to kick in at the end ever the year as part of the fiscal cliff. >> we don't want to see our public hurt in any way. >> reporter: just down the road in washington, d.c., the standoff continues. house speaker john boehner says he is still waiting for president obama to make his next counteroffer to the republican plan he rejected. >> we need a response from the white house. we can't sit here and negotiate with ourselves. >> reporter: the president and boehner spoke on the phone wednesday but republicans want more. >> we want to sit down with the. we want to talk specifics. >> reporter: whether the talks happen on the phone or in per